Ham Product Alert Sparks Warning to Customers
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on Sunday for ham salad products containing breadcrumbs that have been recalled due to fears of potential listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Newsweek reached out to the FSIS via email Monday for comment.
Why It Matters
Listeria is able to survive refrigerator temperatures and can infect individuals after eating contaminated food, sometimes with symptoms appearing as late as 30 to 90 days after exposure, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says.
According to the FDA, symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal distress. In vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women, infection can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe illness in newborns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 2,500 serious listeriosis illnesses and 500 related deaths occur annually in the U.S.
Numerous recalls have been initiated in 2025 due to the potential for damaged products, foodborne illness, contamination and undeclared food allergens.
Millions of Americans experience food sensitivities or allergies every year. According to the FDA, the nine "major" food allergens in the U.S. are eggs, milk, fish, wheat, soybeans, Crustacean shellfish, sesame, tree nuts and peanuts.
What To Know
The FSIS says that 12-ounce printed plastic tubs containing "RESER'S FINE FOODS Ham Salad" and 5-pound clear plastic tubs containing "Molly's Kitchen Ham Salad" are under the public health alert.
The Reser's Fine Foods ham salads have a sell by date of September 1, 2025. The Molly's Kitchen ham salad products have a sell by date of August 31, 2025.
The problem was first discovered when Reser's Fine Foods, Inc., in Topeka, Kansas, found out that they use recalled breadcrumbs in their ham salads, the FSIS says.
There have been no reports of people having "adverse reactions" related to this health alert as of Sunday, the FSIS says.
A photo of Reser Fine Foods Ham Salad can be seen in connection to a public health alert in July 2025.
A photo of Reser Fine Foods Ham Salad can be seen in connection to a public health alert in July 2025.
Photo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service
What People Are Saying
The FSIS in the alert in part: "In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food."
It continued: "FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' or retailers' refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. Retailers that have purchased these products are urged not to serve or sell them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase."
What Happens Next?
People are urged to call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline with any safety questions at 888-MPHotline or email MPHotline@usada.gov, the FSIS says.
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